Branigan Cultural Center teaches kids, parents about house plants

Maya Patrick,10, reaches around her sister Sari Patrick,10, as they make Grass Friends, at the Culture Club sponsored by the Branigan Cultural Center at the Museum of Nature and Science, Saturday, January 7, 2017. The grass friend house plants are part of the Culture Clubs celebration of National House Plant Appreciation day.(Photo: Josh Bachman/Sun-News)Buy Photo

Although the temperature was a bit chilly for the outdoor event, kids and the parents got a better understanding and learned a little more about some of the more common plants in their homes and backyards.

"It might have been geared more for the kids, but I learned a few things myself," saidi Jacki Durham, who took her two daughters to the workshop. "We do have quite a few plants around our house, and some of those varieties were here (Saturday). My girls seemed to like (the workshop), especially the free plants they each got. But it surprised me a little that I learned a few tips and tricks, too, about how to care for the plants we got."

Kids and their parents had their choice Saturday of a free cutting from Aloe vera, Pothos, Silver Dollar or Purple Heart plants. Most of the parents quickly took advantage of the free take-home plant from those varieties. But the overwhelming choice of kids was a plastic spoonful of Bermuda grass seed wrapped inside a small piece of pantyhose, covered with dirt, and inside a small, clear plastic cup. A lot of the kids then decorated the cup with sparkling buttons.

"It's cool," said Maggie Taylor, 8. "I don't know a whole lot about all of this plant stuff. I hope my mom can help me with it. But (Bermuda) grass; that should be kind of fun watching that grow."

Norma Hartell, curator of education at Branigan Cultural Center, said many of the house plant cuttings came from her home.

"January is a good time for this workshop because plants are dormant, (and) under minimal stress, and can be re-repotted, or replanted more easily," Hartell said. "These are all good plants to have around the house because they can help purify the air."

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Aziz Dalloul,left, stretches a pantyhose over a plastic cup, which would then be filled with soil and grass seed, to start off Denise Anstine, right, Grass Friend, during the Branigan Culture Club, Saturday January 7, 2017 in front of the Museum of Nature and Science.(Photo: Josh Bachman/Sun-News)

Hartell added the plants given to participants Saturday are heartier and better able to tolerate the cooler temperatures and transport to new homes. However, many of those people who took plants were encouraged to put them in pots as soon as possible.

"All plants need soil, water, and sunlight to survive, and different plants require different amounts of ach," said a portion of an information sheet, of general houseplant care, that was prepared by Branigan Cultural Center. "Knowing the type of plant you have is essential in knowing the amount of soil, water and sunlight it needs."

Citing here own experiences with house plants, Hartell added a common way of killing plants is by giving them too much water. She said the best way to determine if a house plant needs water is to feel the dirt in its pot.

"The plant needs to be able to drain (the water it gets)," Hartell said. "Over watering and neglect are two of most common ways a house plant could die on you."

The Branigan Cultural Center is conducting a series of workshops for people of all ages. The workshops, known as Culture Club, are from 10 a.m. until noon every Saturday. Most workshops will be at the Branigan Cultural Center, 501 N. Main St., but some, like Saturday's event, could be moved to other city venues.

Culture Club is a family oriented program that is free to all participants. Future workshops will include creating dot art, military star badges, and water color spray paint art. There will also be a celebration of Chinese New Year, and the Year of the Rooster, on Jan. 28.

The Branigan Cultural Center is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays. Information: 575-541-2154 or museums.las-cruces.org.

Informational packets and craft supplies laid out at the table in front of Museum of Nature and Science, Saturday January 7, 2017, during the Branigan Culture Club, this week celebrating National House Plant Appreciation day.(Photo: Josh Bachman/Sun-News)